Sydney, Australia, May 3 (EFE).— Prime Minister Anthony Albanese secured a landmark re-election Saturday as Australia’s Labor Party stormed to a clear majority, delivering a crushing blow to the conservative opposition whose Trump-style tilt failed to sway voters.
“Australians have chosen a majority Labor government,” an emotional Albanese declared during a triumphant speech in Marrickville, a Labor stronghold west of Sydney, even before half the votes had been counted.
“In this time of global uncertainty, Australians have chosen optimism and determination. Australians have chosen to face global challenges the Australian way—looking after each other while building for the future.”
With more than 60 percent of ballots tallied, Labor had won 71 seats, while the conservative Liberal-National coalition had secured just 23 in the 150-member House of Representatives.
According to projections from public broadcaster ABC, Labor is expected to win 86 seats—well above the 76 needed for an outright majority and improving on the 77 it held previously.
The Liberal-National coalition, meanwhile, is projected to fall to 41 seats, a steep drop from its current 58.
Conservative leader Peter Dutton, a political veteran and former defense minister, lost his seat in Queensland’s Dickson constituency, which he had held since 2001.
The scale of Labor’s win exceeded expectations. Pre-election polls had forecast only a slim advantage for the ruling party and suggested the possibility of a minority government or a coalition.
The results also undercut predictions that young voters might turn away from the two-party system, with smaller parties playing a decisive role.
The Greens, for example, are projected to lose the four seats they held previously.
Albanese’s campaign focused heavily on the cost-of-living crisis and social equity, and he credited the victory to Australians who wanted a fair job, fair pay for their work, and the right to switch off when they finish work.
The 62-year-old becomes the first prime minister in more than two decades to secure back-to-back elections, the first since John Howard.
His campaign offered tax cuts, electricity bill discounts, and stronger measures on housing affordability, a top concern for young voters.
Trade tensions also loomed large in the campaign.
Albanese has pledged to visit the United States as his first foreign trip, aiming to renegotiate tariffs imposed under former US President Donald Trump, including a 10 percent base tariff on imports and 25 percent levies on steel and aluminum. Trump has not spared Australia despite a trade surplus in the US’s favor.
Analysts described the opposition’s showing as a “bloodbath,” pointing to a nationwide collapse in .
Dutton’s campaign had adopted several Trump-style positions, and while that strategy initially gave him an edge in late 2024 polling, it ultimately backfired amid US trade unpredictability and his campaign missteps.
Voter turnout exceeded 98 percent among the 18 million ed voters in a country where voting is compulsory. Non-voters face a fine of 20 Australian dollars (about $13).
Speaking to ers in Brisbane, Dutton accepted “full responsibility” for the election result, acknowledging that this was “an historic occasion” for Labor.
“Twenty-four years is a long time in public life, and it has been an amazing honor,” Dutton said, reflecting on losing his own seat in Dickson. “But I do want to say thank you to the people of Dickson who have placed faith in me over a long period of time, and we’ve had lots of battles and lots of campaigns.” EFE
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